Family Handbook 2020 - P4N 4S4 YMCA of Timmins 376 Poplar Avenue
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Family Handbook 2020
YMCA of Timmins
376 Poplar Avenue
Timmins, ON
P4N 4S4
Phone: (705) 360-4381
Fax: (705) 360-4382
www.timminsymca.org
2|Page
Contents Good Start Checklist Program Statement Prohibited Practices Guiding Challenging Behaviours YMCA of Timmins About Our Child Care Our Centre Locations Fun Can Be Messy Specialized Services Volunteers and Students in the Program Transitioning Your Child Allergies / Outside Food Anaphylactic Policy Health & Wellness Giving Medicine Immunization Rest Time Sunscreen Policy Special Considerations: Accidents and Emergencies Outdoor Play & Playground Safety Field Trips Arrival, Departure and Release Impaired Driving Late Pick Up Policy Serious Occurrences Duty to Report: Child Protection Policies and Procedures Criminal Reference Checks Policy Building Closure Fees Hours of Operation Subsidy Payment Policy Holidays and Vacations Admission, Discharge and Attendance Policies Waitlist Process Returning in September Yearly Registration Update Complaints Procedure Infant Daily Program Schedule Toddler & Preschool Daily Program Schedule YMCA of Timmins Privacy Policy Statement Administration Staff
Good Start Checklist
Read the Handbook
Take time to read through the handbook so that you have all the information you need.
Keep it in a safe place so you have contact information readily available.
Talk to Us
Spend time with your child’s educator in the morning when you arrive to share any pertinent
information that will help us care for your child.
Notify the main office if your child has any food or other allergies.
Let us know about your child’s toilet training needs.
If your child is sick or will be absent, please call the main office by 9:00am.
If you move, change jobs or change any of your telephone numbers, please let the main office
know.
Notify the main office if someone different will be dropping and/or picking up your child.
Have a back-up plan for child care when your child is ill and cannot come to the Centre.
Have a Good Start – What should my child bring?
Label all of your child’s clothing and personal items, including diaper cream.
Keep two extra sets of clothing at the Centre for your child.
Indoor running shoes and socks are required.
Bring outerwear each day for your child (remember to label everything).
Bring sunscreen (if you have signed off that you will be providing it).
Sheets will be provided for the cribs and cots in your child’s room. We will wash them every Friday
after rest time for the following week.
Provide a blanket and pillow (optional) for nap time. Blanket is to be taken home on Friday to be
washed and returned on Monday morning.
Comfort items such as blankets, stuffed toys are welcome. The YMCA is not responsible for lost or
stolen items.
Provide a weekly supply of disposable diapers (if needed) or cloth diapers (will only be used if a
disposable liner is provided and soiled diapers are to be brought home on a daily basis)
Outside food is not permitted to ensure a safe environment for all of our children. If your child has
food restrictions, please notify the Child Care Supervisor so arrangements can be made.
Please remember that your child is busy learning through play and will get messy. When dressing
your child for care in the morning, please remember this when choosing clothing.
Licensing
The YMCA of Timmins is licensed by the Ministry of Education under the Child Care and Early Years Act.
Provincial Government standards are established in order to ensure that all programs provide a safe,
healthy and stimulating environment with quality for the children we serve. We are inspected at least
once annually to confirm compliance with the Child Care and Early Years Act.
Program Statement YMCA Playing to Learn Curriculum and Healthy Child Development The YMCA of Timmins has a well-established, research-based approach to early learning. Our curriculum YMCA Playing to Learn has been implemented in all programs from infancy to 6 years since 2008. We know that young children flourish in all areas of development when they are in supportive, caring and responsive relationships with adults. This is the foundation of quality child care. We also know that young children learn through play. Play is enjoyable, spontaneous, active and undertaken without external goals and sanctions. All young children are curious and they explore their world through play. When this natural activity is supported, the child’s competence, capacity and potential are maximized. The educators are true professionals who connect with children, ensure safe environments, plan and extend play, reflect on successes, document the children’s play and learning and communicate regularly with parents. Our quality child care programs create rich learning environments for children to flourish and reach their potentials. Taking the knowledge of child development, knowledge of how children learn and a well-grounded understanding of children’s play, early educators can construct a living curriculum that truly reflects the interests and needs of the children in their care. The YMCA views all children as being competent, capable, curious and rich in potential. Our home-like environment is filled with many living things and the implementation of small group learning experiences support children to self-regulate in a calm environment with fewer distractions. Our educators further support children’s self-regulation through play partner interactions by following the lead of children, observing their interests and taking note of how they interact with others and the physical environment. Through continual observation and attention our educators support children in developing strategies to remain calm and to regulate their emotions while recognizing the effects of their actions on others. Our educators prepare their weekly programming based on the children’s interests and what they are currently learning during the day in school in a play- based environment. In addition, posted throughout your child’s classroom you will see documentations highlighting your child’s learning through their play experiences. Curriculum is Interactive “Curriculum is not a pre-packaged document or series of activities planned months in advance. It is the actualization of authentic learning experiences. It is an ongoing series of decisions made by the early educator in response to expressed interest and perceived potential of the individual children.” Eden and Huggins, YMCA Playing to Learn, 2001, page 3
Core Principles
Discovery through Play
Play is the primary way that all children learn. Experiences are provided based upon the children’s
interests and promote a holistic approach where the condition for learning is one in which all areas –
physical, social/emotional as well as cognitive and social development are key.
Exceptional Educators
The role of a YMCA Educator is to:
Establish a supportive social environment that supports
autonomy and self-esteem
Establish positive relationships, friendships and conflict
resolution
Provide responsive care to all children in the program
while meeting their individual needs
Design a supportive physical environment
Provide new play possibilities through interest centres
Be an involved play partner whom expands and scaffolds
from the child’s interest
Foster, observe and document significant behavior and
developmental milestones
Incorporates the community
Family Participation
Families are the primary caretakers and a child’s best teacher.
YMCA Educators play an important role in supporting families by caring for their children and augmenting
their children’s growth, development and well-being in a comfortable, home-like, safe and secure
environment. Parent participation and decision making in their child’s program develops personal growth,
confidence in parenting and service to others.
In addition, we provide annually opportunities for family involvement through; field trips, information
sessions, program surveys, educator and family conferences and ongoing written and face-to-face
communications.
Supporting Principles
The following supporting principles are recognized as areas of importance in programming:
Developmentally Appropriate - Offers a variety of age appropriate planned and spontaneous
activities, Based on understanding of child development, requires observation and individually
responsive programming
Small Groups - Supports physical and emotional safety, facilitates individual learning, encourages
intimacy and attachment, provides a context for positive guidance strategies
Relationships - Builds trusting relationships, focuses on high-quality interactions, educator take
cues from children, reinforces pro-social skills and demonstrates positive role-modeling
Positive Environment - Allows children to make choices, creates aesthetically calm and pleasant
rooms based upon the current interests, stimulates learning, encourages skill development and
there is a natural flow to the placement of learning centres
Choice - Children direct their own learning, children have input to where they learn (outside,
interest area, etc.), children decide when they want to learn, children choose their own play
experiences and materials they want to explore
What Will Your Child Be Doing?
All the things your child wants to do. There will be story-telling, time to play
with the blocks, opportunities to count and compare, to make pictures, sing
and to make-believe. Your child will experience the world through
exploration, investigation and self-regulation inside the classroom and
outdoors.
Learning is extended to the outdoors from the indoor classroom and
reaches out to our community through local community walks, or special
guests that visit our programs. The outdoor learning environment provides
extended opportunities for all elements of learning; from gross motor
development, nature exploration, independent and cooperative games. When weather is increment and
unpredictable, alternative activities for the children will be provided. Children will experience a minimum
of two hours of outdoor play as required under the Child Care & Early Years Act.
Children attending a full day infant program will rest according to their own individual schedules. Children
attending a full day toddler and preschool program will rest up to two hours per day. Quiet activities will
be provided to children as they transition from rest to the afternoon program.
How Will Your Child Be Learning?
Your child will be playing to learn. We have known for a very long time that child’s play provides the
foundations for language and literacy; for mathematics; science and technology; and for the arts. It is
these types of play opportunities at the YMCA that determines what your child learns.
What Will The YMCA Educator Be Doing?
We view a positive, supportive relationship between child and educator as fundamental.
Educators connect with children by being available, sensitive, responsive and caring. This is the
way they build trust, making children feel safe and secure. From this platform, relationships are
made so that children discover, take risks, grow and learn.
Supporting you in your role as a parent.
Providing a safe environment for your child by preparing spaces that are more conducive to
learning.
Carefully watching to determine what your child at that particular moment is capable of learning.
Actively participating in your child’s play experiences through expanding and scaffolding you’re
your child’s play as well as observing and documenting the milestones in your child’s life to ensure
age-appropriate development.Through YMCA Playing to Learn your child’s educator is more attentive, more involved and more aware of how your child is developing and what your child is learning. In other words, YMCA Playing to Learn is a guide for the quality care and education for your children from infancy to age six. Our goal is to continue to improve our National Playing to Learn Play in Action score to be able to reach the next level of incorporating the YMCA A Place to Connect curriculum into our Before & After school Programs to enhance what we will be following using our knowledge from YMCA Playing to Learn as well as ensuring the incorporation of How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years. How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years Our YMCA Playing to Learn curriculum is consistent in approach with “How Does Learning Happen?” Ontario’s pedagogy for the early years. The core and supporting principles of YMCA Playing to Learn mirror the Early Learning for Every Child Today (ELECT) guiding principles. Our pedagogical approach requires educators to be play partners, architects of the playscape, planners, recorders and communicators. Our planning process - recording observations, determining interests and planning play opportunities in all developmental areas – is continuous and available to families. This is an emergent approach that celebrates new ideas and supports the spontaneity of the developing child. The educator expands the children’s interests by adding materials, asking questions and scaffolding the children’s learning by providing new challenges and ideas. Weekly program activities are linked to the Continuum of Development. In our full day Infant, Toddler and Preschool Programs, daily play highlights of each individual child are documented in their Continuum of Development journal to demonstrate to each parent how their child is developing and learning through play. One of our main goals is to maintain continuous links with families and parents describing play experiences and how the child’s play is linked to learning. We are delighted that our curriculum aligns so well with the Ministry of Education’s framework for early learning and its “How Does Learning Happen?” document. We are confident that this alignment will help facilitate the development of the children in our care and their transition to Ontario’s school system.
The chart below illustrates how our pedagogical approaches to learning and development are consistent
with “How Does Learning Happen?”;
How Does Learning Happen? YMCA Playing to Learn
Responsive Relationships Relationships
Learning Through Exploration, Play and
Discovery Through Play
Inquiry
Play Partnerships, Planning Process,
Educators as Co-Learners
Reflective Practice
Aesthetics, Current Interests Evident in
Environment as Third Teacher all Learning Centres, Scaffolding &
Extending
Two weekly documentations are
Pedagogical Documentation completed by each Educator and posted
for families
Planning Process, reflecting on over-
Reflective Practice and Collaborative
riding interests and development of the
Inquiry
children
Program Assessment and Reflective Practices
Educators reflect and assess their program and environment daily to ensure that the program meets the
individual needs of the children and the group and that their environment is set up according to their
interests.
The program supervisors review weekly program plans and pedagogical documentations to ensure that
they meet our YMCA Program Statement requirements. Supervisor’s demonstrate pedagogical leadership
by observing each classroom daily and engaging in conversation with the educators and children regarding
how the children are learning, what they need to learn and what is the best means for this learning to
happen.
As part of our contract with YMCA Canada, the YMCA of Timmins completes a Play in Action Assessment
on each of our full day Infant, Toddler and Preschool Programs ensuring that YMCA Playing to Learn is fully
implemented. It assesses the social environment, educator interactions, the planning process and the
physical environment of each centre.
Our Before, After School & Full Day PD Day Programs
The YMCAs Before, After School and Full Day PD Day program for 4-5 year olds and 6-12 years old is in par
with the Ministry of Education’s Extended Day program to provide children and families with a seamless
day from child care to the school day. At this particular age, children are looking for challenges and
opportunities to help plan their activities all while building self-esteem and discovering their talents
through social, emotional, physical and cognitive play. Our overriding goal is to support children through
this discovery and provide environments that are safe, fun, hands-on and play-based. We ground our
programming in the 40 Developmental Assets, which helps build upon children’s self-esteem,interdependence, social skills to help them reach their full potential, in mind, body and spirit.
Ongoing Professional Development
The YMCA is committed to the ongoing professional development of all educators. All educators working
with children in our Infant, Toddler and Preschool Programs will receive 18 hours of training in the YMCA
Playing to Learn Core Trainings within their first year of employment. Supplementary trainings are offered
to educators on an ongoing basis in keeping with YMCA standards and the College of Early Childhood
Education. In addition, our YMCA Program Champion, Supervisors and our community partners provide
ongoing coaching and mentoring opportunities to further develop our educators in their continued
development. Our YMCA of Timmins Training Program is updated frequently and attached to our Program
Statement Policy and Procedure.
Nutrition
The YMCA is committed to the development of healthy people. We strive towards educating young
children and their families on nutrition and healthy child development. By providing children with healthy
eating choices, we are teaching a life-long skill to nutritiously feed and nourish their bodies for optimal
health and development.
All menus are comprised of an assortment of healthy food items from each of the food groups in the
Canada Food Guide; free of trans-fats, sodium and sugar reduced with an emphasis on whole grains and
whole foods.
Following Canada’s Food Guide helps children grow and thrive. Our menus are rich in fruits, vegetables
and whole grains which are healthier and provide the body with a high concentration of vitamins,
minerals, dietary fiber and are low in fat.
Our full day Infant, Toddler and Preschool programs provide a morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack
to the children. Our before and after school age programs follow the Canada’s Food Guide as well as our
Child Care morning and afternoon snack menu. A morning breakfast, snack and afternoon snack is served
at these programs. Our main location school age program provides full day care during non-instructional
days. Children who attend these programs are required to bring a nutritious bagged lunch consisting of
the following:
The bagged lunch and snacks are nutritious and follows Canada’s Food Guide
Lunch is provided in a labeled lunch bag
Foods that contain or may have come into contact with nuts are not in the child’s lunch or snack
Child Protection
All Educators, volunteers and placement students will follow our core values of caring, honesty,
inclusiveness, health, respect and responsibility. They will ensure that every child has a sense of
belonging , is developing a sense of self, health and well-being, every child is an active and engaged learner
who explores their world with body, mind and senses and is a capable communicator who expresses
themselves in many ways. Educators support children in developing strategies to remain calm and to
regulate their emotions while recognizing the effects of their actions on others.
Any practice based on a negative control technique is not part of the YMCA Child Protection Practices andCore Values. Prohibited practices include corporal punishment, harsh or belittling discipline including verbally belittling or threatening, depriving basic needs including food, shelter, clothing or bedding, locking the exits of the child care centre for the purposes of confining a child or using a locked or lockable room or structure to confine the child if he or she has been separated from other children, confinement or restraint for the purpose of limiting a child’s movement. Anyone who observes or hears a prohibited practice being used must make a report to the local child protection agency as per the YMCA Child Protection Policy. Educators, students and volunteers must follow the YMCA Child Protection Policy and comply and cooperate with the child protection agency. The supervisor will ensure that a written record of the monitoring of all employees, volunteers and placement student’s child protection practices is completed annually or immediately following an observed or reported prohibited practice. All written records of monitoring will be kept on file for three years. Placement students or volunteers will not be left alone with children. Community Partnerships While our range of community partners is broad, the largest and most important is the education system. Many of our centres are located in schools, so relationships with principals, faculty and teachers are critical. The YMCA works closely with local community agencies and partners in order to support the children and families in our programs. We view the community as a valuable resource and our educators plan learning opportunities to engage the community in our programs. We seek out opportunity to share our knowledge and to learn from others in the community. Experiences we have endured on in the past have been activities such as activities at Golden Manor including both our children and residents, teachings of a pow wow and annual attendance at pow wow, excursions to local farms, grocery store trips and more. The YMCA of Timmins provides a free service that is in collaboration with community partners such as the Porcupine Health Unit and the Children’s Treatment Centre that provides resource workers whom work with children that have special needs, speech delays, behavior delays and occupational therapy. We also work with Community Living providing spaces for children in their programs to be integrated with children in our programs. This partnership has also developed a Sensitive Santa program for children with sensory issues whom find it a challenge to visit Santa in noisy environments. Annual Review All YMCA Educators, volunteers and placement students must adhere to a number of policies and procedures, the Program Statement as well as Ministry, Fire and Health Regulations. All educators, volunteers and placement students will review the Program Statement prior to working in program with the children and annually thereafter or upon any changes or modifications to the Statement. Annual review of the Program Statement and these policies and procedures ensure our educators and volunteers are knowledgeable and prepared to handle any situation. Working Together In closing, our overriding goal is to ensure the overall, health, safety and well-being of each child while in our care. We look forward to working together with you the family in the best interest of your child(ren) to provide them with an individual and positive journey for a seamless entry into their community school or,
a continued positive journey for those children already enrolled in their community school. Thank you for
choosing to place your child with YMCA of Timmins Child Care Services, as noted; we have an open door
policy and are always available for feedback to ensure we are providing the best possible care.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the YMCA of Timmins Program Statement, please forward
them to our General Manager, Courtney Berlinghoff.
Prohibited Practices
Young children benefit from an affirming approach that encourages positive interactions with other
children and with adults, rather than from a negative or punitive approach to manage unwanted behaviour.
Research from diverse fields of study shows that children who attend programs where they experience
warm, supportive relationships are happier, less anxious and more motivated to learn than those who do
not. Experiencing positive relationships in early childhood also has significant long term impact on physical
and mental health, and success in school and beyond.
The YMCA Program Statement sets out approaches that support positive interactions between children,
families, staff and the community.
The following prohibited practices are not permitted:
Corporal punishment of the child;
Physical restraint of the child, such as confining the child to a high chair, car seat, stroller or other
device for the purpose of discipline or in lieu of supervision, unless the physical restraint is for the
purpose of preventing a child from hurting himself, herself or someone else, and is used only as a
last resort and only until the risk of injury is no longer imminent;
Locking the exits of the child care centre or home child care premises for the purpose of confining
the child, or confining the child in an area or room without adult supervision, unless such
confinement occurs during an emergency and is required as part of the licensee’s emergency
management policies and procedures;
Use harsh or degrading measures or threats or use derogatory language directed at or used in the
presence of a child that would humiliate, shame or frighten the child or undermine his or her self-
respect, dignity or self-worth;
Depriving the child of basic needs including food, drink, shelter, sleep, toilet use, clothing or
bedding; or
Inflicting and bodily harm on children including making children eat or drink against their will.
Measures Used to Deal with Contravention of Policies and the Prohibited Practices
Any reports involving breach of the above prohibited practices are taken seriously and will be dealt with by
YMCA management. Individuals who violate the prohibited practices and this procedure are subject to
disciplinary or corrective action up to and including termination of employment or volunteer assignment.Guiding Challenging Child Behavior
Guiding Principles
It is the goal of the YMCA to provide a healthy, safe and secure environment for all participants. The YMCA
teaches the core values of Inclusiveness, Health, Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility. Children who
attend the program are expected to follow the behaviour guidelines and to interact appropriately in a
group setting.
Behaviour Guidelines
People are responsible for their actions.
We respect each other and the environment.
We are committed to enhancing the wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities in spirit,
mind and body.
Honesty is the basis for all relationships and interactions.
We care for ourselves and those around us.
We work to include all members.
Unacceptable Behavior and Violence
The following behaviors are not acceptable and may result in the immediate suspension of a participant for
the remainder of the current day or the entire program:
Endangering the health and safety of children and/or staff, and volunteers.
Stealing or damaging YMCA or personal property.
Leaving the program without permission.
Continuing to disrupt the program.
Refusing to follow the behavior guidelines or rules.
Using profanity, vulgarity, or obscenity frequently.
Acting in a loud manner.
Guiding Children’s Behaviour management techniques used with specific incidences will be documented on
an incident report form.
This report will then be kept in the child’s file for referral and is used as a tool to document occurrences and
determine patterns of behavior.
Always refer to our Program Statement and the Prohibited Practices Policy. Prohibited Practices are
found below under Staff Prohibited Practices and Management.YMCA of Timmins Since the YMCA of Timmins originated in 1991, a variety of recreational programs have been offered throughout the year. Included are special day camps such as Christmas and March Break Camp and Summer Day Camp. PD Day care is also available throughout the school year. In 1993, the YMCA of Timmins expanded its services to the field of Child Care, for children between the ages of 18 months to 12 years. The development of our Child Care programs is in direct response to the child care needs in our community. In 2013, we expanded our services to include Infant care to which we now serve children between the ages of 3 months to 12 years at our Poplar Location. In 2016, we acquired another branch to our child care. We opened Balsam Street Child Care Centre which serves Infant, Toddler, Preschool and School Age Care. In 2018, we opened our Moore Street location in South Porcupine which serves, Infant, Toddler and Preschool. In September of 2019, we opened another full day location at Schumacher Public School, Croatia Avenue Child Care Centre. The centre serves Infant, Toddler, Preschool and School Age children.
Mission Statement
The YMCA of Timmins creates opportunities that encourage the development of healthy individuals,
families and community.
Our Vision
The YMCA of Timmins will be the acknowledged provider of accessible, quality programs to encourage the
development of strong kids, strong families and a strong community.
Our Values
The YMCA of Timmins’ goals are to help the community develop character through promotion of our
specific values:
CARING – RESPECT – HONESTY – RESPONSIBILITY – INCLUSIVENESS – HEALTH
The YMCA of Timmins is a charitable organization made up of clients, volunteers and professional staff.
We offer quality programs that promote self-improvement, self-reliance and mutual respect between
members and participants. We aim to foster an inclusive society that welcomes everyone – regardless of
background, circumstances or abilities.
About Our Child Care
YMCA Children’s Services has been providing children, youth and families with high-quality educational
Child Care for more than 150 years. We are the largest provider of not-for-profit licensed child care across
Canada.
Our licensed child care Centre delivers programs designed to facilitate growth in all areas of a child’s
development from Infant through to School Age children. Our committed teaching staff has a wide range
of qualifications that allow your child to experience a variety of learning styles through both a hands-on
and fun approach.Our Centre Locations YMCA Poplar (Main Site) (3 months – 12 years) (Parking available in front of centre) Open 7:30am – 5:30pm 376 Poplar Avenue, Timmins ON P4N 4S4 705-360-4381 705-360-4382 (fax) Balsam Street Child Care Centre (3 months – 12 years) (Parking available in front of centre and on Balsam) Open 7:30am – 5:30pm 387 Balsam Street North, Timmins ON P4N 6H5 705-531-5243 705-531-5263 (fax) Moore Street Child Care Centre (3 months – 12 years) (Parking available on Moore) Open 7:30am – 5:30pm 88 Moore Street, South Porcupine ON P0N 1H0 705-579-2074 Croatia Avenue Child Care Centre (3 months – 12 years) (Parking available on Fourth Avenue) Open 7:00am - 5:30pm 64 Croatia Avenue, Schumacher ON P0N 1G0 705-531-2354 YMCA Bertha Shaw Before & After School (4 – 12 years) (Parking available on Powell and Crawford) Before school: 7:30am – 8:30am & after school: 3:30pm – 5:30pm 109 Powell Avenue, South Porcupine ON P0N 1H0 705-365-6206 (cell) YMCA Centennial Before & After School (4 – 12 years) (Parking available in school lot) Before school: 7:30am – 8:30am & after school: 3:30pm – 5:30pm 545 Wilcox Street, Timmins ON P4N 3K5 705-365-8689 (cell) YMCA St. Joseph Before & After School (4 – 12 years) (Parking available on Huot Street) Before school: 7:30am – 8:30am & after school: 3:30pm – 5:30pm 207 Huot Street, South Porcupine ON P0N 1H0 705-360-3483 (cell) YMCA W. Earle Miller Before & After School (4 – 12 years) (Parking available in school lot) Before school: 7:30am – 8:30am & after school: 3:30pm – 5:30pm 200 Victoria Avenue, Timmins ON P4N 8L2 705-360-3657 (cell) For P.D. Days, not all locations have care. Please see the list available in September.
Fun Can Be Messy
Every child has a cubby for their belongings. Please ensure your child’s clothing is clearly labeled to avoid
disappearance and confusion. Each child should bring a change of clothing, as even the oldest children can
get wet during water play or cover themselves in paint and goop. Although all paints and markers are
washable, we suggest children wear comfortable, washable clothing you wouldn’t worry about being
spoiled.
Footwear should have non-slip soles and be suitable for running and climbing.
Children who spend part of the day sleeping can bring in a comfort item.
We require that children leave a pair of shoes and an extra pair of mittens at the Centre in the
winter.
Please remove drawstrings from clothing or tuck them securely into coats. Children are at risk of
strangulation from loose strings or scarves. Glove or mitten clips are safer for children.
Clothing should have easy closures to encourage children to be independent.
Clothing should be appropriate for the weather and the season, i.e. snow pants, mitts, hats and
boots in winter; sun hat in summer, extra sweater or jacket for spring and fall etc.
Children being toilet trained should have a couple of changes of clothing available, including shoes.
Keep an extra set of clothing at the Centre for your child. This extra set should change seasonally and as
your child grows. We are careful about looking after each child’s personal property, however we cannot
be held responsible for loss or damage to property left at the Centre. Please leave all sentimentally
important toys and belongings at home.
Specialized Services
The YMCA of Timmins is licensed as an integrated Centre. In addition to participating in the daily child care
program, your child can also strengthen needed skills with individual programs provided by our resource
workers who work under the guidance of community professionals.
The following agencies offer their service to the YMCA Resource Program at no extra charge to the
parent/guardian:
Porcupine Health Unit for Speech-Language Assessments and Programming
Children’s Treatment Centre for Overall Assessments and Programming
Infant Development Program for Overall Assessments and Programming
North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services
Cochrane District Child Care Resource Services
Please note that this portion of the program has limited spaces. Should you have any questions regarding
your child’s development and wish to access these services, you may contact the Child Care Supervisor.
Volunteers and Students in the Program
From time to time you may see students doing field placements and/or volunteers in the Centre. OurChild Care Centre provides field placement opportunities for college students who are pursuing their Early Childhood Education diploma. These students contribute significantly to our program and to the education of your child. The students are supervised and mentored by our educators and gain practical experience while bringing new ideas to the Centre. Students and/or volunteers are never left alone with children. Transitioning Your Child Child Care Centre ratios and grouping guidelines are set out by the Ministry of Education. Once children reach a certain age, it will be time for them to move to another room and group of children with a new teacher. Educators understand that this can be difficult for some children so measures are in place to help children adjust. The move is discussed with parents/guardians and a Program Transition Form will be signed by you acknowledging the change before the transition occurs. The Program Transition Form will outline when your child will start his or her visits to the new room. Your child will visit their new room a number of times before moving permanently, this will help him or her adjust and make new friends. Communication and information sharing between educators and parents/guardians will also help the transition. Allergies / Outside Food There are severe allergies in the child care. In order to keep everyone safe from reactions, no outside meals and/or snacks can be brought in. However, if a child has allergies, a special diet or is unable to eat certain foods due to cultural practices, please notify the Child Care Supervisor so arrangements can be made. Please let us know of any dietary concerns on your child’s registration form. Although we cannot change the entire environment of the Centre because of allergies, every effort possible will be made to minimize contact. Under special circumstances such as birthday parties, a special snack may be allowed, however it must be store bought and allergen free with labels present and seals not broken. Anything that is brought in that does not fall under this category will not be served to the children and will be placed in the child’s cubby to be taken home. Anaphylactic Policy Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe, potentially fatal, systemic allergic reaction that can involve various areas of the body. Exposure to even a little amount of a substance that a child is allergic to can trigger an anaphylactic reaction. If your child has an anaphylactic allergy, please notify the main office or the Child Care Supervisor. You will need to fill out an EpiPen Information Form at the main office. In order to ensure your child’s safety, children who require an EpiPen, but do not bring it (or EpiPen is expired), will not be admitted into child care. Health & Wellness To maintain a good standard of health, a daily check is made on each child. It is necessary to have suitable arrangements made for your child in the event of illness. Should your child become ill during the day, he or she may be separated from the other children and the parent or guardian will be contacted immediately
to pick up the child. Children should not return to the Centre until they are ready to participate in all
aspects of the program, including outdoor activities.
Children should be kept at home if they display any one of the following symptoms:
Fever over 38o Celsius
Diarrhea – three times in one day
Vomiting
Undiagnosed rash/skin condition
Obviously infected discharge from eyes (thick and coloured)
Lethargy and irritability and are not able to participate in the program
Head lice, eggs (nits) seen – please note that it can take several treatments before the lice is
completely gone
Known or suspected communicable disease (e.g. mumps, measles, strep throat)
Parents and/or guardians are strongly encouraged to keep ill children at home to prevent the spread of
illness. Children must be free from symptoms for 24 hours before returning to the Centre. All medical
certificates re-admitting a child who has had an infectious disease should be given to the main office for
adjustment of fees.
There are other times when a child is not showing signs of a definite illness but yet not able to handle the
stress of the day. In these instances, it will be the decision of the Child Care Supervisor as to whether the
child should be sent home.
Giving Medicine
Parents/guardians are encouraged to give their child medication at home whenever possible. We can only
administer prescription medication to your child with your written authorization. Non-prescription
medication can only be administered with a doctor’s note giving clear written authorization. If your child
is on any medication, you will be asked to complete and sign a Medication Authorization Form at the main
office and discuss the timing and amounts of the medicine to be given.
Medication will only be administered if it meets the following requirements: in the original container,
clearly labelled with the child’s name, date of purchase, expiry date, and name of drug, instructions for
storage, dosage and administration instructions. You must also provide a measuring cup or an oral
syringe.
Immunization
All Infant, Toddler and Preschool children immunizations must be up to date according to the schedule for
Publicly Funded Vaccines in Ontario. A copy of your child’s immunization record or an affidavit (Statement
of Conscience or Religious Beliefs – Immunization of School Pupils Act) from the Ontario Ministry of Health
must be submitted to the office prior to attendance at the Centre. The YMCA of Timmins reserves the
right to refuse attendance of any child not updated in their immunization in the event of an outbreak in
the Centre.Rest Time It is required by the Child Care and Early Years Act that all children attending a licensed Centre in an Infant, Toddler and Preschool program for more than six hours is permitted to sleep, rest or engage in quiet activities based on the child’s needs. A separate sleeping area is provided in the Infant room as sleep schedules vary based on individual child’s needs. Sunscreen Policy It is required that you sign off the permission form to allow your child to have sunscreen applied. Sunscreen is available for a cost of $5.00 per year, or you may bring your own in for educators to use on your child. Payment notifications will be sent out at the beginning of the season. Special Considerations: Accidents and Emergencies In an emergency, the safety and care of the children is our primary concern. If your child is involved in a minor accident while in our care, our educator will immediately administer First Aid. We will inform you at pick up time and you may be asked to sign an accident report. Depending on the extent of the injury, you may be asked to pick up your child to seek appropriate medical attention. If we can’t reach you or your authorized contacts by phone, we will assume the responsibility and seek medical assistance for your child. An incident report is completed for every accident or injury. This form describes the nature of the accident and any resulting injury. You will be asked to sign the form as acknowledgement of our having informed you about the accident. A copy of the signed incident report will be provided to you. A child needing emergency medical care will be taken to the closest hospital. You will be notified at once. If you have a special requirement about hospital treatment of your child, please let us know in writing. Outdoor Play & Playground Safety At the beginning of each day, a staff member does an inspection of the playground area and equipment for potential hazards and litter. Daily playground activities are recorded on the Daily Program Plan in your child’s classroom. Activities are planned to enhance a child’s creative, motor and social skills and to encourage children to engage in constructive play. Our outdoor play schedules reflect the seasonal weather conditions and time of year. Children are required to be outdoors for up to a minimum of two hours per day, weather permitting. Thus, it is very important that you ensure your child has the appropriate outdoor clothing each day. However, if there are severe weather conditions such as storms, low temperatures, wind chill, high temperatures with high UV rating, or forest fires, children are kept indoors. Educator-to-child ratios, as outlined in the Child Care and Early Years Act, are maintained on the playground and during outdoor activities at all times and cannot be reduced for any reason. All educators are aware of the number of children in their group at any given time and attendance is recorded.
Educators position themselves to ensure all areas of the playground are visible and teach children the
safety rules for all the equipment.
If your child is not well enough to participate in outdoor play, he/she should remain at home until he/she
is feeling better. While we are concerned for your child’s well-being, we are not able to keep your child
indoors with an educator and meet the required educator-to-child ratio mandated by the Child Care and
Early Years Act. Your cooperation is necessary to ensure the safe supervision of all children in our care.
Field Trips
Local field trips are fun for the children and enhance their learning experience. In all instances, you have
the final say on whether or not your child participates in a field trip. Field trips may include city bus trips
to the library, community parks and local stores. These excursions are often a starting point to encourage
children to explore their outside environment. You will be notified in advance of any trips and will be
asked to complete a separate consent form allowing your child to participate in the excursion. If for some
reason you do not wish your child to participate in the field trip we will ask you to find alternate
arrangements for your child during the time of the trip.
Arrival, Departure and Release
To ensure safety and security of your child while attending the YMCA of Timmins, we require that:
Parents/guardians escort their child to an educator and sign him/her in. Our responsibility begins
when you inform us that your child has arrived.
Parents/guardians are responsible to dress and undress their child upon arrival and departure.
Parents/guardians must notify the Centre if someone other than those listed on their registration
forms will be picking up the child. Children will only be released to those appointed by the
parent/guardian. The alternate pick up person must be 16 years of age or older and will be asked
for photo identification if educators are unsure of who the person is.
When picking up your child, please make sure the educator has acknowledged your presence and
sign him/her out.
When there are child custody arrangements in place, we shall not deny a parent access to their
child unless the Centre has a copy of the legal document outlining the specific custody
arrangements including days and timeframes.
In the event that a non-custodial parent arrives to pick up their child, the parent with custody will
be contacted immediately as well as the authorities if necessary.
Impaired Driving
Our educators care about the children’s safety. For this reason, our educators are to follow specific
procedures should a parent/guardian or authorized person for pick up arrive at the centre who is under
the influence of alcohol and/or legal or illegal substance that cause impairment and is planning on driving
home. The educator will help you call a cab or contact a friend to come and get you and the child. If the
parent/guardian or authorized person denies any of the help and drives off with the child, the police and
the appropriate Children and Family Services will be called to assist the educator.Late Pick Up Policy
Our hours of operation are 7:30am to 5:30pm. After 5:30pm there is a late charge of $5.00 per child for
the first ten minutes and $1.00 per minute thereafter. Late fee charges will be added to the family’s next
invoice.
The YMCA of Timmins is aware that occasional emergencies and sudden inclement weather may make it
impossible for families to arrive on time. When this is the case, the late pick up charge may be waived (if
not a repeat offender). Program registration may be terminated or suspended at the discretion of the
YMCA of Timmins’ management due to a family’s consistent late pick up of their child.
Serious Occurrences
The safety and well-being of our children in licensed child care programs is the highest priority. We work
diligently to provide a safe, creative and nurturing environment for each child. In spite of all the best
precautions, serious occurrences can sometimes take place. The Ontario government has introduced a new
policy that requires licensed child care Centres to post information about serious occurrences that happen
at the Centre. To support increased transparency and access to information, a “Serious Occurrence
Notification Form” will be posted at the Centre in a visible area for 10 business days.
Licensed child care Centres are already required to report serious occurrences to the Ministry of Education,
which is responsible for child care licensing. This posting will give parents/guardians information about the
incident and outline follow-up actions taken and the outcomes, while respecting the privacy of the
individuals involved. Longer-term actions taken by the operator will also be included to help prevent
similar incidents in the future, where applicable.
A serious occurrence falls under 5 categories:
1. Death of a child
2. Allegation of abuse and / or neglect
3. Life threatening injury or illness
4. Missing or Unsupervised child(ren)
5. Unplanned disruption of normal operations. For example; fire, flood, gas leak, detection of carbon
monoxide, outbreak, lockdown, other emergency relocation or temporary closure.
Many factors may lead to a serious occurrence report. A serious occurrence does not necessarily mean that
an operator is out of compliance with licensing requirements or that children are at risk in the child care
program.
This policy supports the government’s effort to increase access to information about licensed child care
programs in Ontario.Duty to Report: Child Protection Policies and Procedures Anyone who suspects that a child has been abused or is at risk for abuse (physical, sexual or emotional) and/or neglect has a legislated duty to report this directly to their local Family and Children’s Services. Our Child Care Centre provides services to children and their families and, therefore, also has roles and responsibilities with respect to child abuse and neglect. It is the legal responsibility of every person who performs professional or official duties with respect to a child to report to the appropriate Family and Children’s Services abuse or any suspicions of child abuse encountered in the course of one’s work. This responsibility is extended to include any volunteers, students or support staffs that have contact with the children. Persons failing to report suspicion of child abuse are subject to legal action and a fine if convicted. Suspected cases of child abuse by a staff member of the child care must be reported to the appropriate Family and Children’s Services. The Child and Family Services Act requires that everyone who has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is in need of protection, shall immediately report the suspicion and the information on which it is based to the appropriate Family and Children’s Services. Further action will then be determined by Family and Children’s Services. If you would like to read our entire Child Protection Policies and Procedures, you may request a paper copy from our Child Protection Lead, General Manager, Courtney Berlinghoff or visit our website. Criminal Reference Check Policy It is the policy of the YMCA of Timmins to screen all potential volunteers and employees prior to confirmation of employment or final confirmation of acceptance of a person’s volunteer status as stated in the YMCA of Timmins Child Protection Policy & Procedures. The criminal reference check shall consist of a check through the Canadian Police Information Computer (CPIC) for outstanding criminal code charges as well as criminal convictions for which a pardon has not been granted. The purpose of the CRC is to determine whether the potential employee has a record of criminal offences, which makes him/her unsuitable for positions of trust. The following information is what the potential employee or volunteer is consenting to be released: Criminal Record (Adult), Criminal Record (Young Person), Records of “Not Guilty by Reason of Mental Competence”, Pending Charges Under Federal Statutes, Pending Charges Under the “Child & Family Services Act”, Record(s) of Convictions for Offences under the Child and Family Services Act. It is left to the discretion of the employer whether or not information provided will disqualify a person from a position with the YMCA of Timmins, unless charges are directly related to, or in our opinion, would jeopardize the safety of the children and youth participating in our programs. When there is a question of unsuitability due to the CPIC results, the CEO and General Manager will review the information. It is the right of all individuals to have an opportunity to discuss the information provided by the screening check with the potential employer or supervisor of the volunteer position applied for if the agency is considering withdrawing the job offer due to past criminal convictions. All YMCA of Timmins employees and
volunteers will be asked to fill out a Declaration of Criminal Activity Form yearly and have another CPIC
completed every three years in accordance to YMCA of Timmins Child Protection Policy and Procedures.
If you have any further questions on how we screen our employees, please feel free to contact the General
Manager, Courtney Berlinghoff.
Building Closure
Such things as inclement weather and building maintenance and operations may affect the operation of
the Centre. If in the opinion of the General Manager and/or Chief Executive Officer, continued operation
would result in risk, inconvenience or hazard to the Centre’s children, parents/guardians and/or staff, the
decision to close the facility may be made.
In the even that a facility is closed, the General Manager will:
Arrange for notification of parents/guardians as to Centre’s closure.
Remain at the Centre until all children, parents/guardians and staff have left the Centre and a sign
will be posted in the door advising of the closure.
Emergency Management Policy and Procedures
In the event of an emergency pertaining to the centre we will notify parents/guardians of the centre’s
emergency in a timely matter by telephone. We will post a sign on the door advising of the emergency. In
the event of an evacuation, we will evacuate to the designated evacuation location. Parents/guardians will
be notified and a sign will be posted on our door advising of the evacuation location.
Fees (As of April 1, 2020)
Infant Full Day (over 5 hours) Before School
$44.00 per day $7.00
Infant Half Day (under 5 hours) After School
$31.00 per day $10.00
Toddler & Preschool Full Day (over 5 hours) Before & After School
$40.00 per day $17.00
Toddler & Preschool Half Day (under 5 hours) P.D. Days / Snow Days
$27.00 per day $40.00
Hours of Operation
The YMCA of Timmins is open Monday to Friday from 7:30am until 5:30pm. Our Centre is closed on the
following days:
New Year’s Day
Family Day
Good Friday
Victoria Day
Canada Day Civic Holiday
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
We will also be closed early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Please note that if a statutory holiday falls on a weekend, we will post alternative dates every September.
In September of each year, parents will receive a separate list of holiday closures, P.D. Days and
registration dates for P.D. Day and holiday care.
Subsidy
It is our policy that no one is denied access to our programs because of economic circumstances. Please
contact the General Manager for more information regarding subsidized child care.
Payment Policy
Child Care fees directly support the staff salaries, supplies, equipment and administration expenses;
therefore fees must be paid upon receiving invoice. However, all new enrolments must pay the first two
weeks prior to receiving care in our Centre.
Payments can be made either in person or by mail or by phone to the YMCA of Timmins; cash, cheques,
postdated cheques, Interac, VISA and MasterCard are accepted.
There is an initial administration fee of $20.00 for each new family. This fee secures your child’s
spot in the program. This fee is non-refundable.
Enrolment forms must be completed and returned to us prior to your child’s first day.
Siblings enrolled in child care and before & after school programs receive a 10% discount.
Should there be a change to your child’s enrolment schedule, the office must be notified.
A charge of $25.00 for NSF cheques will apply.
Receipts will be issued when payment is received. Please retain these for income tax purposes. If
you require a year-end total receipt for income tax purposes, a $5.00 charge will apply.
Interest will be charged on accounts outstanding over 60 days at an annual rate of 24% (2% per
month). Overdue payments will be sent to a collection agency for settlement after a period of
three months delinquency. Written notice will be sent to you prior to your account being sent to
collections.
Holiday and Vacations
Parents/guardians removing children for holidays when the child care facility remains open will be
responsible for payment of all regular child care fees and daily changes even though the child is not
present unless two weeks written notice is given. See Admission and Attendance Policies for more details.Children who are removed from the program for a maximum two week period during the year will be able
to return to their regular enrolment unless otherwise stated. Parents/guardians may have an extension
upon written approval from the General Manager or Support Services Clerk in Manager’s absence.
Children removed from the program for longer than two weeks will not be guaranteed placement upon
their return unless parents/guardians pay for the days beyond the two weeks to reserve their child’s space
and the Manager of Child Care Community Initiatives is notified prior to the vacation time. Should space
not be available, the child’s name will be placed on a waiting list.
Admission, Discharge and Attendance Policies
Children enrolled for full day, before and/or after school will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis.
If at the time of enrolment there is no space available, we will put the child on the waiting list.
Children enrolled for full time (5 days per week) will be given the priority over half time (less than 5 days
per week) thereby maximizing the use of licensed space.
Part time care is available on a limited basis and is vulnerable as the Centre reaches capacity. If you are
granted part time registration and your component of care becomes full, you will be given the choice of
taking full time care or forfeiting your space.
Child Care fees will be charged in the following manner.
1. If your child is sick or absent from the program, you will be charged for that day. If your child is
sick, you must call the main office before 9:00am. Please note that the same rule applies if your
child is enrolled in any of our before and after school programs. If you are picking your child up
from school you must inform us of the absence by 3:00pm. You may get a doctor’s note from your
doctor stating that your child was ill and be charged only 50% for those days absent stated by the
doctor.
2. Two weeks written notice is required for all holidays, days away from the program or to terminate
services. If you do not provide two week’ notice, you will be charged the full day rate.
Discharging from our programs requires a Notice of Withdrawal Form to be completed. We require a two
week notice for all withdrawals / discharges from our program. Our Support Services Clerk at the Main
Office will complete the form with you after you submit your formal withdrawal in writing to her.
Waitlist Process
A Waitlist Application is a standard YMCA form used to record the information of families requesting to join
the YMCA when there are no spaces available. Administration staff then enters this information in our main
waiting list on the server. When a program space becomes available, Administration staff uses the waitlist
to find the family who has been on the waitlist the longest (based on their (application date) and if they
meet the criteria of the spot available. For example, full time or part time spot available. There is no cost to
being on the waitlist.
*Siblings automatically go to the top of the waitlist.You can also read
